2-inch S&W Combat Masterpieces

[UncleEd]

The cycle of time seems to be at work
as a very good number of the often
hard to find Model 15 snubs are showing
up on GB.

Quite a few have boxes, papers. I'm
betting those pieces were mostly
"sock drawer guns" purchased
for home defense, put away and never
bothered with again.

The range is from the 1970s to early
1980s.

I'm a nut for the Combat Masterpiece
Model 15 in .38 Special. And......

.....it turns out my sock drawer still has
some room.

 

[Pat Riot]

I hope you find the perfect sock drawer filler.

I haven’t seen a model 15 in person in years. Actually, the last time I saw a 15 was at a Cabela’s in Tualatin, Oregon, in 2015 or 2016. It was right beside a beautiful model 14 with factory jeweled trigger and hammer (according to the Gun Library guy).
I still kick myself for not buying either one. I waited to talk to my wife and the next morning they were both gone.

 

[kBob]

I know the Diamondback guys will grumble but I think the M15 was the best .38 Special cop gun ever.

I just liked about everything about the 4” as a patrolman’s side arm if limited to .38 Special revolvers which many departments were.

It is unfortunate that bullet design only began to make the .38 Special more viable about the time departments began to allow semi autos in cop’s holsters.

It will upset some interested in Law Enforcement when I say I wish Departments still insisted on a .38 Special revolver. For a host of reasons not really on topic.

I have been a gun nut since getting my first toy guns in the 1950’s.By the time I got out of my first tour in the service and started an AA in Law Enforcement I was hot for a good service Revolver in .38 Special as many departments did not allow any thing else. I shot them all and the .357s anyway. Yes, standing on my hind legs the Diamondback and Python could turn in some maybe slightly better scores on a NRA style what folks call today Duel stance one handed. But for carry and running a Hogan’s Alley type course under time pressure it was the Combat Masterpiece hands down.

Plus the Model 15 is just classically pretty!!!

-kBob

 

[amd6547]

I didn’t even know what a Model 15 was, when I found this one at a gun show while looking for a Model 10. Price was $175. It was during the great police revolver sell off days…

 

[kBob]

Dang amd6547!!!

You had me loading the kids in the car for the drive from Florida to Milan and Cedar Point to “see the cousins” and find $175 M15s…..

-kBob

 

[Great Scot]

Protects the homestead!

 

[Archie]

The Combat Masterpiece is a delightful sidearm. I have one in the inventory these days. The adjustable sights are nice if one shoots different types of ammunition.

I have to say I prefer the 'Military & Police' (fixed sight model 10 for younger folks) as a duty gun. Has to have proper grips, of course. Sights never go out of adjustment and are much more rugged. Yes, they can be 'adjusted'; it requires some small files and a bit of patience. (Collective gasp!)

Now I must confess. I never have seen any point to the two inch version of the Masterpiece. None.

But I do wish you luck in the quest. I collect .32 automatic pistols from the 'early days'. They aren't all that practical for much, either. History in my case.

 

[1KPerDay]

Here’s my 2” M15 for any interested

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Here’s my 2” M15 for any interested

Absolutely stunning M15! Glad you shot it. Hope that one stays in the family for many, many generations.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I hope you find the perfect sock drawer filler.

I haven’t seen a model 15 in person in years. Actually, the last time I saw a 15 was at a Cabela’s in Tualatin, Oregon, in 2015 or 2016. It was right beside a beautiful model 14 with factory jeweled trigger and hammer (according to the Gun Library guy).
I still kick myself for not buying either one. I waited to talk to my wife and the next morning they were both gone.

Ive only ever seen a 2" M15 ONCE in the flesh....about 3 years ago, and the price was even reasonable at the time.
I can't understand why I didn't buy it, I think I was probably sleep deprived that day, and running on a single brain cell.
Come to think about it, it may have actually been a hallucination.......

 

[Tallball]

Y'all are a TERRIBLE influence.

I've worked with snubbies very hard for the past few years.

I'm to the point where the short sight radius doesn't bother me much anymore.

I'm mostly limited by the small fixed sights.

Now it appears that I really NEED an adjustable-sighted companion for my 2" Model 10.

Give me a few months and I'll have a picture.

 

[wcwhitey]

Here’s my 2” M15 for any interested

Awesome my brother!

 

[Jonesy814]

A buddy of mine picked up a like new, with box, tools & documents nickel plated 2 inch model 15 at an area shop back in February. It was listed on Gun broker with a fair opening bid and a kind of high buy it now. I spotted the shop address as being about 25 miles away and there were no bids yet. He stopped at the shop and struck a deal. The shop owner had just purchased a large collection and had a couple dozen S&W pre lock revolvers with their boxes. I went over a week later and got a like new with box, nickel model 36

 

[golden]

The model 15 with the 2 inch barrel was always a good looking gun, but if I wanted to get another model 15, it would have a 4 inch barrel. This is one of my favorite range guns and a I keep one at home as backup to by BERETTA for home defense, now that there is finally really good self defense ammo in the .38 Special.

Jim

 

[RainDodger]

I have a pre-15 Combat Masterpiece that was my father's, and the revolver that I learned all about safety and how to squeeze a trigger... while watching Combat! on TV. It is still gorgeous with very little wear (never carried). The only reason I mention this revolver is... I have the ORIGINAL receipt from when my father purchased it in 1955, from a "sports shop" in Seattle, WA... for $50.00 exactly.

 

[velocette]

My beloved model 15 is a well carried, little fired police trade in, I think.
Accurate, fits my hand nicely, smooth action, (helped out by me, Wolff and some stones). Just a nice, good shooting revolver. Easy on the eye and easy on the hand.
Found a K38, (forerunner to the model14) 5 screw, 6" revolver. Hope to have it in my hot sweaty hands soon. S&W K frame Revolvers, goood stuff.

 

[csirre]

Snub lover here. If I actually find a snub Model 15 selling, I would jump at it in a heartbeat!

 

[Biblethumpncop]

I bought a 6" model 15-3 at a pawn shop in 2021. I knew the gun wasn't supposed to have a 6" barrel on it, so I got it for about $300. It turns out it was originally a 2" gun, because of how the frame wasn't beveled at the edge near the barrel. I found a 2" barrel for $25 and my gunsmith mounted it for $40.

The gun was cool but balance was a little odd. Seemed butt heavy. I ended up selling it off for a profit and keeping my 4" birth year model 15-3 and my custom 3" model 10.

 

[Walkalong]

I no longer have my 2" 15-4, just couldn't learn to love it.

 

[UncleEd]

While I do like the 2-inch Combat Masterpiece,
I think S&W missed the bet by not coming
out with in 2.5-inch barrel. The Model
19 with the 2.5 nose looks so much better
and doesn't sacrifice conceal carry.